The House Armed Services Committee has extended the ban on retiring F-22 Raptors through fiscal year 2032. This decision keeps all 184 aircraft in service amid delays with the future F-47, preserving a critical air superiority capability.
Summary
On June 4, 2026, the House Armed Services Committee approved by voice vote an amendment to the fiscal year 2027 NDAA proposed by Representative Austin Scott (Republican of Georgia). This amendment extends the ban on retiring any F-22 Raptors until September 30, 2032, replacing the previous deadline set for 2027. The remaining 184 aircraft, the crown jewel of American air superiority, will thus remain operational longer. This measure reflects Congressional concerns over an aging fighter fleet, delays in the NGAD (F-47) program, and the necessity of maintaining an unmatched capability against adversaries like China or Russia. It prevents a premature reduction of the fleet while highlighting the high maintenance costs and logistical challenges of an aircraft whose production line has been closed since 2012.
The Context of the NDAA Amendment
The National Defense Authorization Act outlines the Pentagon’s budgetary and operational priorities each year. In the House version for fiscal year 2027, the committee incorporated several aviation-related amendments. Austin Scott’s amendment extends a legislative protection established in 2023, when the U.S. Air Force sought to retire 32 Block 20 F-22s deemed too expensive to upgrade for combat use. These aircraft were primarily used for training. Congress blocked those retirements until 2027. The extension to 2032 goes beyond the Air Force’s initial plans, which previously envisioned a phased retirement starting as early as 2030.
This decision is not trivial. It comes at a time when the U.S. Air Force’s overall fighter fleet is under structural pressure: aging aircraft, delays in replacement programs, and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Pacific. Maintaining the 184 F-22s guarantees a core foundation of air superiority while its successor, the F-47, matures.
The Unique Technical Capabilities of the F-22 Raptor
The F-22 Raptor, developed by Lockheed Martin alongside Boeing, remains the most advanced air superiority aircraft in the world. Conceived in the 1990s under the Advanced Tactical Fighter program, it integrates stealth, supercruise, extreme maneuverability, and sensor fusion.
Its twin Pratt & Whitney F119 turbofan engines each deliver approximately 15,875 kilograms (35,000 pounds) of thrust with afterburner and two-dimensional thrust vectoring (±20 degrees). This allows the pilot to execute high-alpha maneuvers that few aircraft can match, while maintaining precise control. The F-22 can thus supercruise at speeds greater than Mach 1.5 (approximately 1,850 km/h) without afterburner, expanding its combat radius, reducing its infrared signature, and conserving fuel.
Its stealth relies on a carefully shaped airframe, radar-absorbent materials, and internal weapons bays (carrying up to six AIM-120 AMRAAM and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles in a typical air-to-air configuration). Its radar cross-section (RCS) is estimated at 0.0001 m² from certain angles, equivalent to a steel marble. The AN/APG-77 (AESA radar) sensors and electronic warfare systems allow for detection and engagement before being detected.
Dimensions: wingspan of 13.6 meters, length of 18.9 meters, empty weight around 19,700 kilograms. Maximum speed exceeds Mach 2 with afterburner. Combat radius is greater than 850 kilometers in an all-internal configuration. These characteristics make it a dominant asset for counter-air missions in contested environments.
Costs, Limited Production, and Maintenance Challenges
The program produced a total of 195 units (187 operational), down from an initial target of 750. The final aircraft was delivered in 2012. The unit production cost was near 143 million dollars, but the full program cost, amortized over a small number of aircraft, vastly exceeds 300 million dollars per unit when factoring in R&D. Flight hours are expensive due to the complexity of the stealth coatings and composite materials.
The U.S. Air Force is investing billions in upgrades: software modernization, improved communications (for better integration with other platforms), and potentially new coatings to further reduce its infrared signature. Despite these costs, Congress views a premature retirement as risky. The production line is shut down; restarting it would be extremely expensive and time-consuming.
Comparison With the F-35 and Strategic Positioning
The F-22 excels in pure air superiority: speed, maneuverability, and stealth optimized for air-to-air combat. The more versatile F-35 Lightning II focuses on strike missions and penetrating air defenses, featuring stealth optimized for lower-frequency radars and superior connectivity. The two complement each other: the F-22 clears the way, and the F-35 exploits the openings. However, with only 184 Raptors, the fleet remains vulnerable to attrition.
Faced with China, which is deploying J-20s in large numbers and modernizing its anti-aircraft defenses, retaining every available F-22 reinforces deterrence in the Pacific. Regular deployments to Kadena (Japan) or Alaska illustrate this role.
The F-47 Successor and an Uncertain Timeline
Boeing secured the NGAD contract for the F-47 in March 2025. The target for the first flight is around 2028, but operational entry into service is expected in the 2030s, likely around the middle of the decade. The Air Force plans for approximately 200 units. The program integrates Collaborative Combat Aircraft (drone wingmen) to multiply combat mass.
Extending the protection of the F-22 bridges this gap. Without it, the fleet risked dropping below a critical threshold, compromising the ability to generate massive sorties in the event of a major conflict. Congress is thus signaling its distrust toward the Pentagon’s optimistic projections for new programs.
Operational and Budgetary Implications
Maintaining 184 F-22s demands sustained investments in maintenance, spare parts, and training. The Air Force will have to balance this cost against its needs for the F-35, the F-15EX (production of which could increase), and infrastructure modernization. The decision also reflects a bipartisan priority: air superiority is non-negotiable.
Technically, the remaining Block 20s could benefit from partial upgrades to regain combat capabilities, as previously considered. This would increase operational availability without having to wait for the F-47.
The debate highlights a broader reality: the United States can no longer afford to reduce its high-end fighter fleet while rivals invest heavily. The F-22’s stealth, supercruise, and sensor fusion remain irreplaceable force multipliers today.
This extension through 2032 offers a valuable reprieve. However, it demands rigorous resource management to ensure that when the F-47 arrives, the transition occurs without a gap in capability. The stakes go beyond the aircraft itself: it is about the American ability to dominate the skies in future conflicts.
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